Flowerpot Bruce Langridge

Bruce Langridge chats to the new curator of the National Botanic Garden of Wales, Alex Summers.

Alex talks about his background, the role of a curator, the people and places he has to work with, and the plans he has for moving and developing the horticultural collections. 

Bruce Langridge chats to Huw Jones, farmer at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. 

They talk about how Huw manages the organic working farm on the Garden's Waun Las National Nature Reserve.

His passion for Welsh Black cattle is clear as he talks about stock levels, markets, breeding and meat quality. Huw's openness to new ideas about encouraging biodiversity on farmland is also inspirational, at a time when farm payments in Wales are likely to become more focussed on public goods.    

Bruce Langridge chats to Bob Edwards about the fun he's had volunteering in the Apothecary's Hall at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. We hear about the creative ways he's used the collections from old chemist shops to grab the interest of Garden visitors, be it through the poisons used in Agatha Christie novels, Harry Potter's mandrake, blood sucking leeches, the scent of frankincense, the vomit of whales or the soothing effect of asthma cigarettes. Bob even plays us a parting tune. 

Bruce Langridge chats to National Botanic Garden of Wales Science Officer Dr.Abigail Lowe about her PhD in pollinating insects. Abi explains how the Botanic Garden was used to examine the links between flowering plants, pollen, hoverflies, bumble bees and solitary bees. She also talks about how her relationship with the Garden began while she was still at school.  

Bruce Langridge chats to National Botanic Garden of Wales Heritage Officer, William Sims. 

William talks about the challenges of interpreting the heritage of the Middleton Estate, now the site of the Botanic Garden. He also talks about how he’s reached out to audiences that wouldn't normally think about coming to a botanic garden.

Bruce Langridge chats to Helen Whitear about 'Dyffryn Twyi - Hanes Tirwedd Ein Bro', a project to help conserve the cultural and natural heritage of the Tywi Valley in Carmarthenshire. Helen talks about the hedgerows, meadows, buildings, language and parklands that make the valley so fascinating.